Christmas with the Lords

by Hannah Langdon

URGENTLY a nanny for Christmas . Seeking an adventurous nanny to work for the aristocratic Lord family at their country estate. Must love naughty dogs, mischievous children and have a high tolerance for Christmas chaos. Room and board provided. Penny Windlesham is stunned when her long-term boyfriend suddenly dumps her, leaving her with a broken heart just in time for Christmas . At a loose end, she accepts a job as a short-term nanny to a family she’s never met. Climbing aboard a train bound for the Dorset countryside, a tear rolls down her cheek. Alone, working and amongst strangers… could her Christmas be any less magical? As she crunches up the family’s frost-covered drive, Penny’s spirits lift when she glimpses her home for the next an enormous manor house, its windows glowing with firelight and festooned with twinkling holly. And, as she settles into her role caring for the adorable Lord children, she finds herself surrounded by a quirky cast of characters, including loveably frazzled Spanish chef Pilar and the children’s grouchy uncle, Lando Lord. Despite Penny’s attempts to avoid him, the darkly handsome Lando seems to be everywhere – hanging around like Scrooge amidst the happy present-wrapping and gingerbread baking. Apparently he wasn’t always this way… is there some secret reason he’s so cranky at Christmas? When Lando is commissioned to carve a beautiful new Nativity scene for the local church, Penny blushingly agrees to be his model, and a sudden spark flickers between them. But it’s not long before the past comes knocking, and Penny discovers exactly why Lando left his old life behind… A heartwarming and feel-good holiday story full of Christmas magic! Fans of Beth Moran, Donna Ashcroft and Trisha Ashley will love Christmas with the Lords .

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Audiobook, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2023

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Genre ~ holiday fiction
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ November 9, 2023
Est Page Count ~ 286 (26 chapters)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 31 minutes
Narrator ~ Tamsin Kennard
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ debut, nanny/uncle to the kids, not awfully behaved kids, slooooooooooooowwwwww burn, grumpy/sunshine, small town, no steamage

Penny & Lando
Since Penny will unexpectedly be alone for the holidays she decides to take a nanny position for a family she has never met. She wasn't expecting to take a liking to the kids grumpy Uncle Lando.

Yeah so I think in order to be considered a romance I need more action than 2 minutes in the last chapter. And by action I don't necessarily mean steamage. Admittance of feelings would even do. Hate when there is EX drama, and here it's X2...blah.

Also, our main characters name is Penny, but the mother of the kids decided her name should be Pixie, that's weird and I didn't like it. The parents weren't very hands on, which is why I suppose they needed a nanny to begin with. There are some mental health issues addressed well.

Overall, this was fine for a debut.

Narration notes:
She always does a mostly fine job. Some of her male voices leave a little to be desired.

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Revelations*

**4.5 Stars*

This was a delight to read and it really crept up on me. I went in blind not even checking reviews etc and mistakenly thinking it would just be a run of the mill Christmas story.
Instead what I got was a story of having a dream for your life and not believing it would come true and then settling for someone thinking that is what you did.

That is exactly what Penny did then after 10 years together she was dumped by her very boring boyfriend who ate into her confidence. Penny who is a primary school teacher decides to apply for a job during the Christmas holidays and afterwards she is off to India to start a new life. Her parents are enjoying their time there and it suits their lifestyle.

The job is looking after a set of twins and little does she know her life will change. Bunny the twins mother is staying with her in-laws for Christmas and as she is the creative type she needs Penny’s help.

Throw in a Mr Darcy man of few words type character Lando Lord. He owns the property and is all set on selling up and going to Greece. He is Bunny’s brother in law, Pilar an amazing Spanish chef who is a hoot.

Penny finds she is drawn to Lando but he has a past that changed him and as Penny desperately tries to avoid him she cannot stop daydreaming about him. Soon there is a tiny glimmer of a spark between them but their exes turn up to add a dampener on things. It was great to read especially his ex a cruella type character who kept calling her ‘the help’ I laughed so many times plus there were some tender moments as we see love blossom for a mature couple, that was beautiful.

Now with the exes putting spanners in the works, is there any hope for Penny moving forward to her dream? ….

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟

[Elizabeth McFarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a sweet holiday romance filled with charm and Christmasy feelings. It's a perfect book for this time of year. Sometimes, you just need a story that makes you smile. Christmas with the Lords is cozy, heartwarming, and simply joyful!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars*

This was a cute book! Very cozy and atmospheric with a found family aspect that I love. I really enjoyed the bloom of the romance and I always love the drama of a terrible ex-boyfriend.

I did not love the ending though, especially the part where the main character says "Lando and I had taken so long to find one other, and now that everything was so perfect between us, what was the point in hurrying?" If you have read the rest of the story it doesn't make sense with her character at all! She waited 10 years for a man to commit to her and then he dumped her. She wants a husband and children very badly. WHYYYY would she then be ok with taking things slowly instead of committing to each other if they know they are the ones for each other. I did not like that AT ALL. And then you find out she's pregnant with this man's baby? So much for not hurrying. 😂 I'm taking off half a star for this ending that made me upset.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Christmas with the Lords, by Hannah Langdon, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Penny is shocked when her boyfriend dumps her out of the blue, to forget her troubles she decides to be a short term nanny. Penny loves her job and the people she works for, maybe this wont be a dad Christmas after all. Penny is a great characters, I really enjoyed reading about her.

[Ana Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book so much, it seemed like the perfect cozy Christmas read but I just could not get into it. I forced myself to finish but it was painful! I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, the whole premise was weird, the majority of the book (95%) was fluff and we see a little romance only at the very end, yet the romance we did get did not satisfy at all. It was way too slow for me, but I think those that enjoy hallmark Christmas movies may enjoy this read. 2⭐️

Thank you for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this title via NetGalley.

[Nicole Dykeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure fluff :)

[April Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
I think this was the hallmark type of Christmas book I needed. Was it a masterpiece? No. But it was perfectly delightful nonetheless
The kiddos were my favorite part

[Winona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC

I wanted to love this so much! I love a good, cozy, slightly cheesy, holiday romance.
Sadly this book did not work for me in any way. I didn't like the characters, the romance or the writing.
Our main character is such a doormat and other than wanting to get married & have children of her own she has no personality.
The romantic interest had even less personality with his only trait being grumpy.
The romance didnt start developing outside the our MCs head until like 80% into the book and then it was so, so underwhelming. There was no chemistry, no build up, nothing.
The side characters felt more like caricatures than actual people and the way they talked was like and odd mix of a childrens book & a historical melodrama (if I have to read "Oh, Pixie Darling" one more time i might explode).
The writing felt very childish. About 30% in I had to check if I'd misremembered and it's actually a middle grade book, but no, it's for adults.
2 stars because I didn't actively hate it, just didn't find anything enjoyable about it.

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Langdon is a new author for me. I kind of had a love hate relationship with this book. I loved the story. I especially loved the children. Although I often felt they seemed awfully knowledgeable for four year olds.

However, this is the story of two very broken people finding each other. Penny actually got on my nerves at times. When I read a romance I love a good strong woman who stands up for herself. Penny’s low esteem just got a bit tiring. If she’d got a little backbone earlier in the book this would’ve been a 5 star read for me. That’s just a personal bias so your view may vary.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lighthearted British holiday romance debut that sees a recently dumped woman taking up a nanny job for a wealthy family over the holidays. It was cute but I didn't love it quite as much as I was hoping to. Parts were funny, I enjoyed the big cast of side characters but the chemistry between the two love interests fell a little flat for me and they didn't really act on their feelings until towards the very end of the book. Recommended for fans of authors like Beth Moran or Portia MacIntosh.

Steam level: closed door

[Jody - Wicked Dark Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about family dynamics, with charming twins, a struggling Bunny, a love-struck Grandfather, William, a mischievous Uncle Xander, and a powerhouse cook named Pilar. Despite their past, Penny and Lando are open to new love, making for a delightful, mature, slow-burn romance with plenty of quaint holiday fun. It's a perfect read for the Christmas season!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

[Brandece · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book club pick

2.5

I'm not sure if I'm to the point that I am over Christmas books or not, but I will say that I was pretty bored throughout this whole book. I'm sure that not much will stick with me, but one thing that I think will stick because it bugged me so much is all of the talks of Penny being too old to have children and get a husband and how she had to move to India because she was less than as a woman. 😫 I did like the kids, and how the family really welcomed Penny into the family.

[Markie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Christmas with the Lords" by Hannah Langdon is now available in paperback, as well as on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible.

Did the fact that one of the characters is named Lando influence my decision to pick up this book? Well, it certainly didn't hurt. "Christmas with the Lords" is an incredibly gentle and comforting read, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. The characters are all larger than life, ranging from gregarious grandads and grumpy uncles to adorable children and pantomime-level villains. It easily earns a spot on the "What a Hallmark movie would be like if Hallmark movies were actually good" list. If you have a soft spot for Christmas cheese like I do, then this book is definitely worth a read.

Penny Windlesham is left stunned when her long-term boyfriend abruptly ends their relationship, leaving her with a broken heart just in time for Christmas. Feeling adrift, she decides to take on a short-term nanny job for a family she's never met. Boarding a train bound for the Dorset countryside, a tear rolls down her cheek. Alone, working, and surrounded by strangers—could her Christmas be any less magical?

However, as she walks up the frost-covered drive to the family's home, Penny's spirits lift when she catches sight of her residence for the next month: a grand manor house with windows aglow from firelight and adorned with twinkling holly. Settling into her role caring for the adorable Lord children, Penny discovers herself immersed in a world filled with a quirky cast of characters, including the endearing but frazzled Spanish chef Pilar and the children's grumpy uncle, Lando Lord.

[Jaffray · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a let down. I didn’t enjoy the characters and assumed there would be a lot more romance. At 20% nothing had happened yet in the story and I thought to myself, what’s the point of this book? I found myself zoning out a lot when reading it. It was a good concept but just didn’t do it for me. I do love the book cover!

[Lori ◡̈]

No rating, DNF at 10%. Note to self, this is a clean Hallmark holiday story. The story starts off cute enough, but the characters are a bit silly so this is coming off as a comedy, not romance. (Tons of other reviews claiming no chemistry, if any chemistry it’s not until the very end, etc).

And lol to the mother of the twins not knowing what to do when her son vomited. Bunny was a clueless mother, kids were ok (not bratty), heroine was sunshine, still hadn’t really met the hero but for two brief interactions (where we are told he is rude, but I didn’t pick up on it). And… there was at least one word in italics in basically every sentence, which I find distracting.

Not for me, but it might be perfect for someone looking for a clean holiday comedy/light romance story.

[Marlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, I am reading and reviewing a Christmas novel. This was freaking funny, the family was batshit crazy and I'm obsessed. This really was a heartwarming and feel-good holiday story full of Christmas magic!

[thebookishstephanie]

Christmas with the Lords is a sweet, Christmas romcom with a fun grumpy x sunshine, small town romance.

Penny is recently single after being dumped by her boyfriend of 10 years just before the holiday season, so she doesn't get her hopes up of a proposal again. At the suggestion of her friend, Penny decides to leave for the holiday and spend time taking care of four-year-old twins in a small town for their slightly eccentric mother, Bunny. The whole family is there, including recluse Uncle Lando, who spends his days woodworking after a severe breakdown.

Both Lando and Penny are planning to leave the country to have a fresh start; could there something new to keep them here?

This was such a sweet story. It focuses a lot on family and has a lot of dynamics with other members of Bunny's family. The twins are delightful, Bunny is having troubles of her own, grandfather William has seen a spark with another local, Uncle Xander is a menace and the cook, Pilar, is a force of her own.

Despite the baggage between Penny and Lando, they are both open minded and willing to move forward with their lives. It is a delightful, mature, slow burn romance with a lot of quaint fun. Perfect for the holidays!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this one! All opinions are my own.

[Juliette Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

Review of “Christmas with the Lords” by Hannah Langdon 🎄

Aw, this book was everything, so cute!! It had all the Christmas vibes, cute characters, the cutest kids and the best scenery. I had a very good time with it and at some points had a hard time putting it down ❄️🧑‍🎄

This story follows Penelope, who, after her long-time boyfriend ended things, decides to take on a job helping a mother in Dorset with her kids. The mother, Bunny, welcomes her with open arms and her two kids are adorable. Honestly, I had some “The Housemaid” vibes when Penelope started helping out, but this story was waaaay cuter than that one, haha ♥️

Enter Lando, the children’s grumpy uncle. Grumpy yes, but immediately I loved him as a character and I loved the developments of both him and Penelope during the book.

One thing that I noticed and thought was so funny was how much these people ate in this story, haha. It went from breakfast, to hot chocolate and candy and a big lunch and gingerbread houses and pizza’s. Honestly just funny and I love to read about people with a good appetite 🍪

Fave quote: “I am prepared to risk loving, even if it means losing. Just be careful who you choose, so that if loss occurs, you at least have wonderful memories.” 🥹

[Brenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was cute (although the posing for the carving thing was weird to me) but overall I found it kind of slow moving and full of overly flowery fluffy words that no one ever uses. I would get it if there was one eccentric character that spoke this way but it was everyone. Even the four year olds.

None of the characters felt like real people.
They all talked like they were straight out of a period drama. The amount of times Bunny said “Oh Pixie darling” alone almost made me quit reading. The dialogue felt so stiff and awkward. The way the characters talked just kept distracting me from the story and about 1/3 of the way through I actually couldn’t remember if the book was set in modern times or the 1800s and had to go check.

Things I liked:
- The setting
- William was fun
-Good job Penny making the first move in starting their relationship
-Some character growth for Penny and Lando at the end. But it still wasn’t enough to make me like them as people.

Things I wasn’t a huge fan of:
- Bunny changing Penny’s nickname to Pixie - like why?
- Bunny and Xander. They were extremely annoying.
- Also the names in this book were mostly ridiculous
- Ben sucked. Just communicate with your wife.
- There was way too much Timothy in the book.
- Penny: the Mary carving was gorgeous and looked just like me
Penny later: ugh I’m not beautiful why would someone like Lando look at someone like me
- The main characters don’t really have much personality:
Lando = grumpy and moody
Penny = no confidence, doormat
- The romance - where’s the chemistry? Lando and Penny barely spoke to each other for 80% of the book.
- Penny giggles and falls into crying laughter fits way too often

I’m definitely in the minority here but this book just wasn’t for me

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute cover!! The audiobook narrator for this one sold the story for me. I probably would have put it down quick, though, if I’d picked up the ebook. The narrator’s voice was immensely pleasing and soothing. (Like, she melted my stress away)

This was a charming Christmas story about a woman (Penny, 40) finally coming into her own. I liked the zany family, and the country setting, but Penny was mostly a pushover, and I wanted more chemistry with Lando. That said, this was a low stakes, sweet holiday romance that worked for me in the moment. In a weird way, it was nice to listen to a holiday romance where the FMC just wanted to get married and become a mom. It really wasn’t any more complicated than that. This usually isn’t my scene in romances, but I liked this one!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertains, well crafted cosy read.?Sometimes I just want an easy read that I know is going to be fun. Doesn’t matter if I know the basic story line going in. This book is just that, heartwarming and fun, and the Christmas filling of family life, strife and love is the perfect filling. Nice to spend some time in the pages of this book. Thank you to Storm publishing for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Pandora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely adorable heart warming Christmas romance. The chaos of the Lord family is hilarious and makes you wish you could be a part of it. Penny is absolutely relatable as our main female character and how hard it can be to make a decision on something when you're not sure what the outcome will be. Do you stick to the plan and something safe or do you go off book and have a possible adventure?

[Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definitely a cozy read, so if you’re into cozy Christmas vibes you may enjoy it. It was waaaay too slow of a slow burn for me though. Like, it should be called a no burn, honestly, because even once the two characters who are “romantically involved” FINALLY have a real conversation about their feelings in the LAST 30 MINUTES of the book (I was listening to it on audible), it’s still quite uneventful. Honestly, I almost DNF’d the book because I was bored, but the stubbornness took over. I did take a break from it for weeks and only came back to it when all the other spicy Xmas rom coms I had downloaded were complete. And maybe that’s my problem… I am into spicy rom coms, which this is not. But if you like cozy and slow and sweet, then this very well may be a 5 star read for you!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful holiday romance with tons of fun and festive Christmas activities and romances. There is plenty of angst as the lovely main characters resist their growing attraction. It takes the arrival of both of their needy exes for them to finally stop fighting their urges. There are adorable twins and dogs and.lots of quirky characters to make this a wonderful Christmas story.

[Hayley Groom · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was fine?

I’m all about a simple fluffy Christmas romance but everything unfortunately felt a bit flat.
For me, the MC was just a big Mary Sue, she didn’t seem to have the personality to back up how wonderful she seemed to be.

I liked the idea of the story and tried to enjoy it for what it was, but ultimately I couldn’t get invested in it or the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher
2/5 ⭐️

[Kandice Miles-Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, heartwarming Christmas story that had all the good feelings wrapped up nicely at the end. Love, loss, struggles, sadness, happiness, family, friends, and good cheer. I enjoyed the banter between the family and how they made the nanny feel like one of them without even trying. A perfect read for this time of year.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! I loved the coziness of this book. It made me wish I could be there amidst all the family fun and craziness. I was captivated from the first page and couldn’t put it down. Definitely recommend

[Kelliann Lusk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the story was cute and heartwarming, I felt like there was far too much swearing and drinking involved for my taste. I did find myself drawn in from the beginning however, and was pleased with the happy ending.